Leica SL3-P: One-minute review

The Leica SL3-P is not a camera for everyone, and it knows it. There's no red dot logo on the front — that easy-to-spot symbol of prestige has been deliberately omitted in favor of a clean, all-black anonymity. Only the word 'LEICA' in white block capitals above the lens mount gives the game away. This is a camera built for photographers who'd rather be invisible than show off, and that philosophy runs all the way through it, with minimal controls, a stripped-back UI, and a design language that says a lot through everything it leaves out.

Getting to grips with it takes some patience if you're arriving from a more conventional mirrorless system. With only four labelled buttons on the body, a lot of control is handed off to the touchscreen, which is polished and logically organized once you learn its rhythms. The rear LCD tilts but doesn't swivel, which is an unusual limitation for a camera at this price — and with a serious L-mount lens fitted, the combined weight is considerable. But pick it up, hold it to your eye, and look through that large, crisp EVF, and something clicks. This is a camera that feels like it was made to be used, not admired.

Image quality is exceptional — unsurprising given the 44.7MP BSI sensor, which is of the same type used by the superb Panasonic Lumix S1R II — and battery life is impressive. The autofocus is competent and handles moving subjects well enough, though it won't trouble Sony or Canon on raw speed. At around £5,150 (US pricing TBC), it's an expensive proposition. But as a pure expression of what a modern Leica should be, the SL3-P makes a very strong case for itself.

Leica SL3-P: Price and availability

• Priced at $6,690 / £5,150 body-only
• Also available in three zoom lens kits

It's unlikely to come as a shock to you that the Leica SL3-P is a very expensive camera. Its launch price, for the body only, is $6,690 / £5,150 (Australia pricing is still TBC at the time of writing).

Leica is also releasing the camera in three kit bundles, each of which includes at least one Vario zoom lens. The SL3-P with a Leica 28-70mm lens is $7,790 / £6,100; with a Leica 24-70mm it's $8,390 / £6,480; and with both the 24-70mm and a 70-200mm it's $10,995 / £8,560.

Leica SL3-P: specs

Leica SL3-P: design

• All-black, badge-free design with minimalist controls
• Premium full-metal construction with IP54 weather sealing
• Large, comfortable EVF with twist-barrel diopter adjustment

The absence of Leica's red dot is the first thing you notice, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. The SL3-P is clad entirely in black, with only 'LEICA' in white block capitals on the EVF housing to identify it. Four buttons across the whole body are labelled (one of which is the power button). It's a stealthy, understated thing — clearly designed for people who want to use a Leica but aren't fussed about being seen with one.

The German-made full-metal body felt exactly as solid and premium as I'd expect from the brand, and comes with IP54 weather sealing for extra outdoors reassurance. There's a large grip covered with a textured material that provides a secure hold even when conditions aren't ideal, and the supplied neck strap is thick and well-padded, which I appreciated given how much weight a serious L-mount lens adds to the equation.

With so few physical controls, much of the camera's operation is routed through the touchscreen. The UI is stylish and well organized, with photo and video modes color coded distinctly in red and yellow respectively. And while the layout takes some adjusting too if you're used to a more button-heavy system, the logic is coherent, and settings are never difficult to locate. Touch-to-focus on the screen works exactly as expected, and custom button assignments help flatten the learning curve further.

The EVF is large, crisp and comfortable thanks to its 5.76-million dot resolution and 0.76x magnification, and as a glasses wearer I really liked the satisfying diopter mechanism that simply requires twisting the EVF barrel rather than hunting for a small dial.

The top-plate display is a genuinely useful feature, giving you a quick rundown of current settings without you having to lift the camera to your eye. The rear LCD, however, only tilts: up to 90 degrees upward and around 45 downward. That covers most tripod and arm's-length scenarios, but there's no forward-facing position for self-shooting, and no side-to-side articulation, which feels like an unusual limitation at this price.

On a practical note, I will say that the SL3-P is not a lightweight system, especially when teamed with some high-quality glass. The Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 lens I used with it added over a kilogram to the body, and while the grip is secure and comfortable, a long day of handheld shooting (covering a child's birthday party, in my case) does become fatiguing. That's less a criticism — after all, there are plenty of heavy cameras around — and more of a warning about how and when it can be used.

Leica SL3-P: Performance

• Exceptional image quality from a 44.7MP BSI full-frame sensor
• Competent hybrid autofocus with broad subject detection, including birds
• Impressive battery life and extensive video options including 8K and ProRes

The SL3-P shares its 44.7MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor with the Panasonic Lumix S1R II — a camera I've tested and rate very highly — and the image quality is, predictably, exceptional.

Raw files processed in Lightroom offer tremendous latitude, with smooth tonal gradation, wide dynamic range and excellent high-ISO performance. JPEGs are very good straight from camera too, and five film-look presets — three color, two monochrome — add some welcome creative options. The high-contrast black-and-white preset is particularly striking, and feels authentically Leica in character.

Video capabilities are more extensive than the camera's photographer-first positioning might suggest: 8K Open Gate, ProRes to 5.8K, 4K at 120fps, L-Log, 12-bit RAW and 4:2:2 10-bit are all available. It's a serious toolkit, even if the handling feels more naturally attuned to stills.

The hybrid autofocus combines 315 contrast AF points with 819 phase detection points, with human, animal (including birds) and car detection. Tracking held up well in practice; testing on an active cat, the camera maintained focus through erratic movement without significant trouble.

Outright acquisition speed with the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 in AF-C is where it falls short of class leaders; it's capable rather than decisive, and anyone shooting fast action should look elsewhere. For portrait, street or documentary work, though, it certainly gets the job done.

Five-axis IBIS rated at up to five stops works quietly and effectively, and battery life is a genuine highlight. After a full charge I shot well over 100 frames across a lengthy session, and the indicator remained full. That seems in line with Leica's claimed 383 shots per CIPA standard cycle.

Should you buy the Leica SL3-P?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Leica SL3-P

• Leica loaned me a sample for over a week, along with a 50mm prime lens
• I used it indoors and outdoors for several days, shooting photos and video
• All sample photos were shot in raw and processed in Adobe Lightroom

Leica loaned me a review sample of the SL3-P camera to test out in real-world use, a few weeks ahead of the official release.

I reviewed the Leica SL3-P over the course of a week, using it exclusively with the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. prime lens. My shooting covered a wide range of scenarios: street photography and candids outdoors, landscape work, and indoor shooting in both natural daytime light and normal interior lighting at night — the latter without flash or studio lighting assistance of any kind.

All sample images were captured in raw format and processed in Adobe Lightroom.

First reviewed June 2026

Instant photography takes on a very different form these days. It used to (and ultimately still does) mean a photo you take that’s instantly printed out on paper. Realistically, it means a photo you take on your smartphone in seconds — and it’s something we all take for granted. Just open the camera on a smartphone, point, shoot, done.

However, in many ways, the instant nature of smartphone photography afforded by the best camera phones can remove any creative nature of framing the perfect shot.

This is a thought I had recently at least when heading over to Europe on holiday, and one I wanted to amend by taking a Fujifilm Instax mini 11 in my carry on. In my mind I couldn’t have made a better choice.

Fortunately, the updated model, the mini 13, is on sale at Amazon for just AU$119 at Amazon for EOFY.

I’ve long been on the fence about instant cameras and a separate camera from my phone in general. I’ve made the trip to Europe several times before to visit my family, and in the past I’ve taken my OM System OM-D E-M10 MKIV.

However, the last time I took it, I never used it (as much as I told myself I would), as the added bulk of carrying around lenses and the camera body itself just proved too much of an inconvenience for me. Considering my iPhone 15 Pro could take decent pictures within seconds, I didn’t feel the need to keep it close by.

This year that all changed. While my iPhone was still an undeniably useful companion on my recent trip — I took well over 1,000 photos — I knew this time that I wanted to capture more memorable pics that would actually get looked at again (this is a safe space; we can all admit we never actually look back at photos we take).

I’d never used an instant camera such as the Instax mini before, and I have to admit there was a very slight learning curve to adjust to a new way of taking photos. And that was half of the fun for me — because I knew I only had a finite number of sheets to print on. I had to make my pictures count!

Using the Instax mini meant I had to be more considerate when framing a shot, which fortunately was super simple using the viewfinder. It might look like a tiny window (because it is), but whatever I saw through it is what came out on paper.

And hey, there really was something magical and special about waiting for the image to develop — how would it look? Did the colours come out ok? Did anyone walk into the shot as I pressed the shutter?

When my partner and I returned home, we made a much more conscious effort to look at the pictures I’d taken to determine what we’d keep and what we’d get rid of. Of the photos we kept, we’re going to frame them at some point at home. We haven’t quite decided how just yet, but we know we will.

Considering I’ve only ever printed a handful of photos from my iPhone, I’d call that a win for Fujifilm. And at AU$119 for the mini 13, it’s a small price to pay for photos you’ll actually come back to.

I love cameras and Lego, so imagine by delight when I received the shiny new Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Camera for Christmas in 2023. The charming set, which features an SLR camera with moving parts and a film door, has lived on my desk at home ever since I completed the build on a wet winter day shortly after.

If you know someone with a soft spot cameras and Lego too (looking at you), I can heartily recommend the set, which has fallen in price to $15.99 at Amazon (was $19.99). Being part of the Creator 3 in 1 series, there are three builds to choose from; an SLR film camera, camcorder or TV set.

Honestly, the SLR build was already plenty enough for me without the other two options. There are neat touches including a film crank, a viewfinder to peek through, and a film door that opens and closes, plus film rolls that you can slot inside the camera.

• For more deals, check out our Amazon Prime Day live blog

I've also spotted another camera-themed set in the Prime Day sales; the Lego Ideas Polaroid OneStep SX-70 for $65.66 at Amazon (was $79.99). As someone who owns an original SX70 instant camera which dates back to the 1970s — which I got refurbished into fully working order by Retrospekt — it's a dream set that I have my eye on this week.

I'm sure the Polaroid SX70-themed set would put just as big a smile on my face as the real thing did, as they are so thoughtfully created sets now available for much less than the full price — and you can grab the best prices today through the links below.

Not in the US? I've included links to the best deals in your region, further below. Happy building!

Today's best camera-themed Lego set deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Amazon's Prime Day sale is here (running from June 23 to 26, and exclusive to Prime members), and if a 360 camera has been on your wish list, it's the perfect time to act. Two of Insta360's best models are getting solid discounts in the sale — but the one I'd actually put in my basket might not be the one you're expecting.

I reviewed the Insta360 X5 last year, and its low-light performance was the standout feature for me. It remains, in my view, the best all-rounder Insta360 makes. At 21% off ($434.99, down from $549.99 for the Standard Bundle, a $115 saving), it's a pretty tempting buy in the Prime Day Sale.

But my colleague Peter Fenech has since put the newer Insta360 X4 Air through its paces, and with Prime Day discounts of 25% on the Standard Bundle ($299.99, down from $399.99) and 26% on the Starter Bundle ($324.99, down from $439.99, also a $115 saving), I think it's the smarter buy for most people.

A baby X5, in the best sense

The X4 Air inherits a lot of what made the X5 so appealing. It uses the same easy-to-swap lens replacement system (which can be a real lifesaver if you scrape a lens on the ground), and it's waterproof to the same 15m depth without a housing.

At 165g, it's also noticeably lighter than the X5's 200g. It's not a huge number on paper, but you'll feel the difference after an hour of holding a selfie stick overhead.

The real divergence is in sensor size. The X5 uses larger 1/1.28-inch sensors, while the X4 Air steps down to 1/1.8-inch (still bigger than the original X4's sensors, for context). In daylight, you'd struggle to tell the two apart. It's only once the light fades that the gap opens up, with the X5's PureVideo mode giving it around a two-stop low-light advantage over the X4 Air.

That sounds like a point in the X5's favor, and it is. But I think that the vast majority of 360 footage gets shot in daylight — think travel clips, bike rides, beach days, family get-togethers — and the X4 Air handles all of that with ease. Peter was impressed by its image quality overall, and found its low-light performance better than expected even without PureVideo on board.

On the battery life front, the X5's larger 2,400mAh battery wins out for marathon sessions: its Endurance Mode can run for over three hours at 5.7K, versus around 105 minutes for the X4 Air with the same settings. But at 8K/30fps (the resolution most people will actually shoot in), both cameras land at roughly 90 minutes.

If you're a professional creator, you regularly shoot in low light, or you simply want the best 360 camera Insta360 currently makes, the X5 at 21% off remains an easy recommendation.

But if this is your first 360 camera, or you want something that genuinely disappears into a pocket, the X4 Air gives you almost everything that made the X5 special, for $100 to $135 less. That's where my money would be going this Prime Day.

Today's best Insta360 X4 Air deal

More of today's best Insta360 deals

The latest model in Fujifilm's long-running series of budget instant cameras might've only launched earlier this year, but I've just spotted the Instax Mini 12 at Amazon US for $79.95 (was $93.95), which is a record-low price ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

It hasn't been discounted that low since last year, making this the first opportunity anyone who's had the best instant camera on their wish list to bag a bargain. That's great timing if you ask me, because the Instax Mini 12 is a great camera for the summer. In the UK, there's another record-low deal on the same Instax Mini 12 camera for £69.99 (was £79.99).

From capturing holiday moments to being passed around at weddings, this is the perfect time of year to own an instant camera. The Instax Mini 12 produces great-looking prints, and is extremely easy to use — what's more to like?

Today's best Instax Mini 12 deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99